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CEGL001505 Rhus trilobata / Festuca idahoensis Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Skunkbush Sumac / Idaho Fescue Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: Skunkbush Sumac / Idaho Fescue Shrub Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in Montana and Wyoming as small patches of vegetation on shallow, rocky soils of upper slopes. Rhus trilobata dominates a sparse shrub layer above a herbaceous layer of Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and other graminoids and forbs. The ground surface is largely rock and bare soil.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this community have a sparse shrub layer dominated by Rhus aromatica that may contain small amounts of other species (especially Rosa spp. and Artemisia tridentata (probably ssp. wyomingensis)). A number of species typically contribute substantial cover to the herbaceous layer, including Pseudoroegneria spicata (which often dominates), Festuca idahoensis, Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Carex inops ssp. heliophila (= Carex heliophila), Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii), and Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa). Following Mueggler and Stewart (1980), Festuca idahoensis contributes at least 5% canopy cover to the herbaceous layer in stands of this association; stands with less Festuca idahoensis belong to ~Rhus trilobata / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Grassland (CEGL001120)$$.
Dynamics: Stands of this association are accessible to livestock and exhibit various amounts of use (Hansen and Hoffman 1988). Continued heavy grazing will decrease the amounts of Pseudoroegneria spicata, Festuca idahoensis, and Hesperostipa comata, and increase the amounts of Heterotheca villosa, Artemisia frigida, Achillea millefolium, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Cerastium arvense (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Hansen and Hoffman 1988). These changes are especially likely with repeated heavy summer use (Mueggler and Stewart 1980).
Environmental Description: Stands of this association occupy sites with more soil moisture than do stands of ~Rhus aromatica / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Grassland (CEGL001120)$$ (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Hansen and Hoffman 1988). They occur on sandstone and porcelanite (scoria). Soils typically are sandy loams (Hansen and Hoffman 1988), and are shallow and rocky, with a considerable amount of rock and bare ground on the surface (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Hansen and Hoffman 1988).
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686587
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b Saskatoon Serviceberry - Snowberry species - Smooth Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Shrubland Group | G272 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Alliance | A3964 Smooth Sumac - Skunkbush Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Shrubland Alliance | A3964 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001505 Skunkbush Sumac / Idaho Fescue Shrub Grassland | CEGL001505 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhus aromatica / Festuca idahoensis plant association (MTNHP 1988)
= Rhus aromatica / Pseudoroegneria spicata Plant Association, Festuca idahoensis phase (Johnston 1987)
< Rhus trilobata / Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
< Rhus trilobata / Festuca idahoensis habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980)
= Rhus aromatica / Pseudoroegneria spicata Plant Association, Festuca idahoensis phase (Johnston 1987)
< Rhus trilobata / Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
< Rhus trilobata / Festuca idahoensis habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 1988. Draft guide to the natural vegetation of Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 389 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.